A SELKIRK charity was part of the start of a campaign to urge families and businesses to gear up for winter.

The British Red Cross and the Scottish Government launched their first severe weather warning preparation campaign – and charity officials were at Selkirk’s Red Cross shop to hand out ‘grab bags’ for emergency winter kit.

The British Red Cross director in Scotland, Norman McKinley, said: “If everyone asks themselves how prepared they are in the home, on the road and in the community and takes steps to prepare for the season ahead, the problems of winter can be greatly reduced.”

The two bodies are urging people to plan for a hard winter – have a list of emergency contacts to hand, protect pipes, find out where to turn off water and power, and have extra food and any medicine that might be needed.

For more information on getting ready for winter, see www.redcross.org.uk/preparescotland or www.readyscotland.org.